The Happiest Medium Review by guest contributor Kate Mickere

The art of storytelling seems to be in the Irish blood. Ancient bards used to wander the Irish countryside, singing the haunting ballads of the isle for a pint of ale. Ray Yeates is a modern bard, traveling across the Atlantic to perform the beautiful one-man show, The Parting Glass.

Written by Dermot Bolger, The Parting Glass examines the story of Eoin, a middle-aged man returning to Ireland after a twenty year absence. Telling his story from the waiting area of the Dublin airport, Eoin takes us through his life. With a great warmth and sharp humor, he discusses childhood friends, life in Germany and soccer. He beautifully explains a father’s love for his son and mourns the loss of his parents and the Irish way of life.

The national obsession with Irish football is interwoven throughout Eoin’s tale. He seems to associate all of the important events of his life with a certain match. The climax of the piece occurs during a game in 2009, when Ireland lost its qualification for the World Cup due to an unfair penalty. As Eoin mourns his country’s defeat, we realize that football isn’t just some silly game. We see that football can be a reflection of the hopes and fears of a nation. No matter what tragedy befalls Eoin, he still manages to believe in his team.

Ray Yeates, a former artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, is funny and endearing in this monologue play. His talent is obvious as he seamlessly shifts between characters and scenes. He is heartbreaking as he relives his tragedies and adorable in his pride for his son. Yeates seems to effortlessly make the text come alive, as each phrase conjures up vivid images. It is a joy and a privilege to watch Yeates create the life of Eoin for us.

Eoin’s life is “a life measured out in soccer matches.” There is so much more in this piece than soccer, however.  The Parting Glass examines what it is to be an Irishman and what it is like to start a new life at middle age, feeling like a foreigner in your own country. Soccer is just the background for this lovely piece.

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• “The Adventures Of Alvin Sputnik, Deep Sea Explorer” – And Multimedia Expert (undergroundzero festival 2010)

Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer

Generally there are many people who put together a show and run  it, but in the case of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer most of the credit goes to just one multitalented individual who does the acting, the entertaining puppetry, controls the lighting and all together makes a wonderful illusion of a world both precious and tragic;  Tim Watts is “performer, deviser, director, producer, puppeterr and animator” and he’s equally adept at all these roles.  He does get some help from a great supporting team – Arielle Gray who collaborated on the show, Anthony Watts who created the sets and gadgets, and Mat Cheethum who put it all against a great wallpaper of sound design.

Today (July 11th, 2010) will be the last chance to see Alvin Sputnik:Deep Sea Explorer in New York before 2012, so if you want to see Watts’ great multimedia extravaganza (without going to Perth Australia to see him in his home venue with Weeping Spoon Productions), make it down to PS 122 for the 3:00 PM Showing.  Why should you go?   Becuase  this production is a masterful mix of music, animation, puppetry and some great solo performance acting.  Take a trip with Watts for an hour on a fantastic voyage to the bottom of the ocean where he undergoes a transformation from a poor unfortunate soul to the savior of humanity (as well savior of his own humanity) as he meets interesting underwater creatures and sees the ruins of the “past” – our present.  The point of view changes from live action, to puppetry to animation, very effortlessly.

Here is a nice highlight reel of this show (make sure your sound is on to get the full effect) , which was last here in New York for Fringe 2009.  Just try to clear your schedule to make it down to this final showing in the undergroundzero Festival at PS122.

A very joyous tragedy where Alvin find wonder along a perilous quest and helps us see how precious life can really be.  See his world in all its multimedia glory.

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Related Posts:

• The Parting Glass (undergroundzero Festival 2010)
• Putting It Together: Paul Bargetto Sets Up undergroundzero Once Again